What is legal separation?
Similar to divorce, legal separation is a process whereby a court determines the rights and responsibilities of a husband and wife arising out of a marital relationship. A decree of legal separation does not terminate the marital status of the parties, but is granted when the court finds that one or both parties need such a separation.
Legal separation is a circumstance where the parties have decided for a variety of reasons, to live separately. A legal separation offers many of the same benefits and protections as divorce, such as child custody agreements and support, spousal maintenance and debt division. A legal separation may be advisable if the parties are not certain they want a divorce or there are extensive financial or property issues that need to be resolved.
